Merauke, South Papua, July 5 -- Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman distributed agricultural assistance worth Rp1.3 trillion (US$70 million) in the 2026 fiscal year to strengthen agricultural modernization, increase productivity, and improve the welfare of farmers in South Papua.

"The total (agricultural sector) assistance for South Papua in 2026 is Rp1.3 trillion," he said at the rice field development and land optimization event covering 137,000 hectares in Waninggap Kai Village, Merauke District, South Papua, on Saturday (July 4).

The assistance was distributed to farmers through the local government as part of accelerating the development of modern, mechanized agriculture to strengthen food self-sufficiency and increase the com...